This study sheds light on a holistic understanding of muqarnas with its historical, philosophical and conceptual backgrounds on one hand and formal, structural and algorithmic principles on the other hand. The vault-like Islamic architectural element, muqarnas, is generally considered to be a non-structural decorative element. Various compositional approaches have been proposed to reveal the inner logic of these complex geometric elements. Each of these approaches uses different techniques such as measuring, unit-based decoding or three-dimensional interpretation of two-dimensional patterns. However, the reflections of the inner logic onto different contexts, such as the usage of different initial geometries, materials or performative concerns, were neglected. In this study, we offer a new schema to approach the performative aspects of muqarnas tectonics. This schema contains new sets of elements, properties and relations deriving partly from previous approaches and partly from the technique of folding. Thus, this study first reviews the previous approaches to analyse the geometric and constructional principles of muqarnas. Second, it explains the proposed scheme through a series of algorithmic form-finding experiments. In these experiments, we question whether 'fold', as one of the performative techniques of making three-dimensional forms, contributes to the analysis of muqarnas in both a conceptual and computational sense. We argue that encoding vault-like systems via geometric and algorithmic relations based on the logic of the 'fold' provides informative and intuitive feedback for form-finding, specifically in the earlier phases of design. While focusing on the performative potential of a specific fold operation, we introduced the concept of bifurcation to describe the generative characteristics of folding technique and the way of subdividing the form with respect to redistribution of the forces. Thus, in this decoding process, the bifurcated fold explains not only to demystify the formal logic of muqarnas but also to generate new forms without losing contextual conditions.

PurposeThe aim of this study is to present design tactics (DTs) for supporting the adaptability of existing primary and middle school buildings into the emerging needs of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study introduces a novel algorithmic model for postoccupancy evaluation of the existing school buildings and provides solutions to enhance the adaptability of these buildings.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs the DTs defined by the authors, integration of DTs to the algorithmic model and tests the usability of the proposed model in the selected sample set. The sample set consists of four primary and middle school buildings with different architectural qualities. The degrees of flexibility of the existing sample set are evaluated depending on the outcomes of the implementation.FindingsThe degrees of flexibility are achieved as a result of execution of the algorithmic model for each selected school building. Initial results of the case studies show that the flexibility of a school building is highly related to affordances and design decisions of the plan layout which were considered in the initial phases of the design process. Architectural qualities such as open plan and having sufficient voids in the interior and exterior space become prominent factors for ensuring flexibility.Originality/valueDeveloping a systematic approach to the adaptation problem of primary and middle school buildings to postpandemic reuse is a novel research topic. Apart from this contextual originality, the proposed taxonomy for postpandemic reuse in terms of three levels of adaptation is a new conceptual framework. Moreover, the proposed algorithmic model itself can be considered as an original contribution, as well as a merge of qualitative values such as adaptation and flexibility with an algorithmic model.

RESUMO: Este estudo apresenta resultados e descobertas de uma experimentação de três passos para integrar técnicas de modelagem e design analógico e digital, com especial atenção para o aumento do rendimento do comportamento de curvatura e curvilinearidade dos materiais de superfície planar rígidos. No âmbito do processo de experimentação, o papelão foi utilizado como material, as ações de corte e flexão foram utilizadas como técnicas e o corte a laser e o ambiente de script visual foram envolvidos como ferramentas. São examinados os potenciais de técnicas de materiais subtraíveis, tais como operações de corte, curvatura, incisão. A experimentação abrange a geração de padrão, incorporação de padrões de corte ao material plano 2D e remapeamento de padrões 2D em superfícies 3D, com base nos conhecimentos adquiridos na fase anterior e na exploração de novas superfícies de forma livre em 3D tanto em ambientes físicos como digitais. O modelo de experimentação de três passos apresentado tem potenciais para contribuir com os estudos pedagógicos focados nas abordagens exploratórias e criativas para a formação e fabricação de projetos integrativos. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Flexão; Criação; Corte a Laser; Fabricação Digital; Técnicas Materiais; Curvatura Dupla.ABSTRACT: This study presents the outcomes and findings of a three-step experimentation to integrate analog and digital design and modeling techniques, with a particular focus on augmenting the affordance of bending behavior and curvilinearity of rigid planar surface materials. In the scope of the experimentation process, cardboard was used as a material, cutting and bending actions were utilized as techniques and laser cut and visual scripting environment were involved as tools. The potentials of subtractive material techniques such as cut, bend, kerf operations are examined. The experimentation covers hands-on pattern generation, embedment of cut patterns to 2D planar material, re-mapping 2D patterns onto 3D surfaces based on the insights gained in the previous phase and exploration of new 3D freeform surfaces both in physical and digital environments. The three-step experimentation model presented has potentials to contribute to the pedagogical studies focusing on explorative and creative approaches for integrative design formation and fabrication processes.

This study discusses how the existing primary and middle school buildings can be adapted to the new needs emerging in the Covid-19 process. The three levels of adaptation are defined as follows: Building envelope-outdoor space relationship, plan layout-function relationship, and furniture relocation. In the scope of this study, five selected school plans were evaluated in the context of flexibility in the plan layout-function relationship. In this study, the concept of “adaptation” is considered as a design approach at the early design phase and/or intervention to respond to a new need in the life cycle of the building.

Active experimentation during intertranslations between digital and physical modelling allow designers to explore new geometrical possibilities. Particularly, while changing the strength of the material, cut operations augment bending performance of the planar surfaces. Keeping in mind the potentiality of bending behavior as a generative tool for computational process, this paper presents the findings of three phased experimentation: implication of cut patterns to 2D planar material, mapping 2D patterns onto 3D surfaces and exploring new 3D free-form surfaces.

Muqarnas forms and patterns carry a high level of spatial, structural, geometrical, and topological complexity. Having a high-level complexity and its definition through simple geometrical and mathematical relations makes muqarnas rich source of information content. By using entropy, which is one of the most important components of information theory, the complexities of built environments or building elements in various scales can be measured. Within the scope of this study, three entropybased methods were used to calculate the complexities of the muqarnas patterns located in the portal of the Buruciye Medrese, which was built in the Seljuk Period in Sivas. In this study, only shape factor was chosen among various factors for calculation and a layer-based representation was used to represent muqarnas patterns. As a result of the study, it was seen that calculated entropy value changed when the muqarnas pattern had different levels of detail. In addition, it was observed that the entropy values of the discrete layers differed from each other.

Purpose This study aims to present a twofold machine learning (ML) model, namely, EDU-AI, and its implementation in educational buildings. The specific focus is on classroom layout design, which is investigated regarding implementation of ML in the early phases of design. Design/methodology/approach This study introduces the framework of the EDU-AI, which adopts generative adversarial networks (GAN) architecture and Pix2Pix method. The processes of data collection, data set preparation, training, validation and evaluation for the proposed model are presented. The ML model is trained over two coupled data sets of classroom layouts extracted from a typical school project database of the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Turkey and validated with foreign classroom boundaries. The generated classroom layouts are objectively evaluated through the structural similarity method (SSIM). Findings The implementation of EDU-AI generates classroom layouts despite the use of a small data set. Objective evaluations show that EDU-AI can provide satisfactory outputs for given classroom boundaries regardless of shape complexity (reserved for validation and newly synthesized). Originality/value EDU-AI specifically contributes to the automation of classroom layout generation using ML-based algorithms. EDU-AI’s two-step framework enables the generation of zoning for any given classroom boundary and furnishing for the previously generated zone. EDU-AI can also be used in the early design phase of school projects in other countries. It can be adapted to the architectural typologies involving footprint, zoning and furnishing relations.

This paper presents a teaching experiment in which 3D digital computational models are explored as the representational base to integrate formal, structural, and environmental performance criteria in design. By describing the academic experience, the paper reflects on its methodologies and results, as well as on the relation between human and computer factors in the design process. This assessment is important to make the students aware of the increasingly intelligent design systems offered by digital technologies to support architectural design, as well as of their relationship with precedent digital and analog representational mediums.